LaLiga - Matchday 31 - 09/04/2017 12:00h

Valencia CF claim third win in a week with victory against Granada CF (1-3)

April, 09 2017 -

Valencia CF capped a fantastic week with a 1-3 win against Granada CF at the Nuevo Los Cármenes - their third consecutive victory in the space of seven days. The team swept aside the relegation battlers with a brace from Simone Zaza and a goal from Santi Mina.

Mina had a starting place in the side, and nearly opened the scoring four minutes in from a Carlos Soler cross, but his header went wide. Zaza also came close, on the quarter hour mark, with a powerful shot that was off target. For Granada, Wakaso tried from outside the box with an effort that grazed the left post.Valencia CF had started the game well and moved the ball well through the middle of the pitch, stealing possession high up thanks to their pressing.Thanks to that, the team stole a ball out wide in the 19th minute. It fell to Montoya on the right. The cross, measured and at mid-height, was sent to the penalty point. Zaza got ahead of the centre back and put in a header to make it 0-1.

But the Italian forward was 'on fire' and two minutes later another move, this time from the left, served for Santi Mina to put a ball in at the back post so that Zaza, with his back to the central defenders, scored the second goal. Valencia CF were up 0-2 within 21 minutes.

The scoreline remained that way until the half time whistle, although Zaza could have scored a hat trick had it not been for Granada goalkeeper Ochoa getting a hand to his shot stemming from a Cancelo counterattack. Mina also put the ball into the net, but his goal was ruled out for offside.Valencia CF did not settle for the 0-2 scoreline and, after a pressing start from Granada CF in the second half, the team had the ball for no less than two minutes, moving it around looking for gaps. Even Diego Alves intervened after 37 touches from VCF. The players rebuilt the move, found space on the right where Carlos Soler was located –having switched wings with Joao Cancelo. He crossed in for Santi Mina, completely unmarked in front of goal, who hit a low shot with his left foot that was impossible for the goalkeeper to reach.

After the hour mark, Granada pulled a goal back after Ponce pounced on slip by Diego Alves. Despite Eliaquim Mangala’s attempts to stick with him, the home team’s striker was able to convert the chance.

Munir El-Haddadi and Carlos Soler could have got a fourth for VCF, but Ochoa avoided it with two good interventions. In the end, the score would remain 1-3 at the Nuevo Los Cármenes, ending a week in which Valencia CF took nine points against Deportivo La Coruña, Celta Vigo and Granada.

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Photographs by Lázaro de la Peña, re-use is not permitted.